Racket frame



June s, 1926. 1,587,918

c. c. MQRRxsoN'.

RACKET FRAME Filed Feb. 25 1921 I' gywg@ Patented .lune 8, 1926..

UlTE SATE.

cuantas c. Monnrson, oF NEW Yoan, N. Y.,4Assi.cfnoa`, BY Mnsnn assreuiunurs,

TO A. G. SPALDING t BROS., 0F NEW YORK, N'. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RACKET FRAME.

Application filed February My present invention relates to improvements in frames for tennis rackets, squash rackets' and the like.

One object of my invention is to provide ,l a tennis racket or squash racket the frame of which will not warp. l

Another object is to provide a racket in which the force of the stroke may be increased without increasing the net weight 10 of the racket.

Another object is to provide a racket in which the weight at or towards the elliptical portion or head of the racket may be varied to suit the requirements of the user.

Another ob]ect is to provide a racket the frame of which is not liable to dent or injury from dropping the racket, or to injury to the elliptical portion or head due 'to coutact thereof with the ground by a too'low I stroke.

One feature of my invention is the use of a hollow metal frame.

Another 'feature is the use of a metal frame of shell construction.

Another feature is the use of a metal frame of shell construction, the shell consisting of two s mmetrical arts. v

Another eature is t e provision of a frame the handle portion of which is hollow 30 for the reception therein of a weight positionable at the will of the user of the racket towards or awa from the elliptical portion or head thereo.

These and other objects, features and ca- I6 pabilities of my invention will appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which show;D one of the embodiments of my invention, and which form part of this specificaw tion, I

Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention las applied to a tennis racket.

Figure 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section thereof.

45 Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view on a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 8 on a lar r scale than Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is an insi e plan view of one of the symmetrical parts of the shell frame.

Similar reference characters denote similar arts throughout the several views.

y tennis racket comprises in its main parts the frame, generally denoted by A,

and the grip-pieces B.

25, 1921. Serial No. 447,679.

The frame A comprises the elliptical portion or head 10, the throat ,11, and the handle 12.

.The frame A is of metal, preferably aluminum, and is hollow or a shell. yIn practice I prefer to make the frame A of two symmetrical parts, one of which, denoted by C, is shown in Fig. 5. The symmetrical part C has, at what forms the elliptical portion or head of the frame, anupstanding outer edge 13 and an inner upstanding edge 14, the edges 13 and 14 being connected by a web or bottom 15. The edges 13 and 14 and web 1 5 are extended from the elliptical portion or head, the edges 13 and 14 converging to form the throat 11 of the frame and then diverging" to form the handle 12, and

the web 0r bottom 15 wideninl out to fill the increased space between the e ges 13 and 14 at the throat and handle.

The edges 13 are provided with lacing holes 16 and the edges 14 are provided with recesses 17 therein for forming with similar recesses of the other symmetrical part C lacin holes, when the symmetrical parts are joined together, there being further lacing holes 18, Fig. 1, passing through the edges 13, and through the throat block 19, later described, and through the edges 14.

The web or bottom adjacent to the throat 11 is depressed as shown at 20, Fig. 4, to form a recess for receiving one of the grips B, the other symmetrical part C having a corresponding depression for the other grip B, this depression 20 extending to the end of `the handle 12.

The symmetrical parts C are joined at the upstanding edges 13 and 14 by welding or inother suitable manner, thus forming the complete frame.

The throat block 19 is of wood or other suitable material and aiords a means for bracing the frame at the throat 11. A butt piece 21 is provided for closing the butt 22- of the frame, this butt-piece being of hard rubber or suitable composition or material, the buttieee 2 1 being'retained in place by an assem ling pin 23 passing through the grips B and through the webs or bottoms 15 of the frame. The butt-piece 21 is recessed 'as at 24 and has a bore 25 therethrough.

The screw threaded rod 26 is disposed within the handle 12, one end of this rod bear- ,ing in the bore of the butt-piece and extending therethrough and provided with a being arranged so as not to protrude beyond the recess 24 of the butt-piece. The other` end of the rod 26 is journaled in the throat block 19.

The rod 26 carries a threaded weight 28, which is provided on opposite sides with leaf springs 29 suitably secured at one end to the weight 28 and bearing at the other end against the interior of the edges of the frame, the purpose of the sprmgs 2 9 being to prevent lateral movement or bending of the rod 26 when the weight 28 is moved thereon, and also to prevent any rattling due to the weight when the racket is in use. rlhe other sides of the weight 28 are provided with strips 30 of felt or other suitable material which bear against the interior sides of the depressions 20 to prevent lateral movement of the wei ht 28 and ermit movement of the weight ongitudinal y on the rod 26. The rod 26 has on it adjacent to the butt-piece 21 a loose stop or washer 31 and an interior loose stop or washer 32 which is preventedfrom inward movement on the rod 26 by a pin 33 or other suitable means, a spring34 being disposed on the rod 26 between the stops 31 and 32 for the purpose of takin up any longitudinal movement of the ro 26 and preventing rattling from this cause.l e

The grips B are of wood or other suitable material and are formed to be received in the de ressions 20- of the frame and bear u on t e edges of the frame," being heldin ace by the before mentioned pin 23 and y lashings 35 and 36 passin over the grips and the frame, or they may e held in place by any other suitable means. l p

The net 37, preferably the customary cat gut, is of theusual form, the strings thereof being laced through the lacing holes of the frame in the customary and well known manner.

'From. the foregoing description it will readily be seen that by turnin the 'button 27 the threaded weight 28 may e moved on the screw threaded rod 26 either towards or away from the elliptical portion or head of the racket to meet the requirements of the stroke of the user of the racket, or'may be moved toa substantially neutral position in the handle immediately beneath the hand grip lof the user, and may be positioned on the rod 26, as desired.

I thus provide a ball striking implement, in the present embodiment a racket, which has a striking end and a handle, and having a longitudinal hollow interior' or chamber in which a weight .is slidably movable longitudinally of the` interior or chamber, this wei ht being positionable in said interior at 51e will of the user at an point within the length of the interior or c amber, whereby the weight et the striking end of the im- And it should be understood that there may y be modifications of and variations in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or exceeding the scope of the appended claims. j

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A'racket com rising, a metal frame of shell construction Ihaving a head, a throat, and a handle; a net for the space within the confines ofl the head' a brace-block for the throat; a buttiece for the open end of the handle provided lwith a bore; a screw-threaded rod journaled at one end in said braceblock and 'engaging at its other end in said bore ofthe butt-piece and extendin therethrough and having on the exten ed end means for `turning the rod; a threaded weight carried by said rod and movable thereon longitudinally of the rod; grippieces for the handle; and means for securing the grip-pieces to' the handle; the handle being providedwith depressions on the eing provided with lacing holes for the net.

2. -A racket comprising, a metal frame of shell construction havin a head, a throat, and a handle; a net for t e space within the contines of the head; a brace-block for the throat; a butt-piece for the open end of the handle provided with a bore; a` screw-threaded rod provided at one end in saidA braceblock and engaging at its other end in said bore of the butt-piece and extending therethrough and having on the extended end means for turning the rod; a threaded'weight carried by said rod and movable thereon longitudinally of the rod; means for preventing lateral movement of the weight and rod when the weight is moved and preventingrattling of the weight in the handle; means for taking up longitudinal movement of the rod and preventing rattling of the rod; grippieces for the handle; and means for securlng the grip-pieces to the handle; the handle bemg provided with depressions on the exterior thereof for receiving the rip-pieces;

and the head, throat and bracelock being at the edges, in the plane of symmetry of the racket, to the edges of the other member to form a complete lracket frame; lacing holes in the` outer ed e portions adjacent to the said webs; and dacin edge portion along t e said junction edge.

5. A racket frame comprising identical sheet metal members joined at the edgs only to' form a tube, each member f ing substantially continuously U-shaped in cross-section, the outer lelg of each having a row of holes cut therein, t e inner leg of each having a row of recesses let in along the edge, said holes and recesses forming a staggered lacing means.

6. In combination, a racket; a weight adjustable thereon; and sound `deadening means secured to the Weight.

7. In combination, a racket having a handle; a Weight movable axially of the handle; and felt secured on said weight to prevent rattling of the weight.

,8. In combination a racket having a hol'- low handle; a threaded rod journalled axially of the handle; a Weight having an axial threaded bore received on said rod; felts secured on respectively opposite sides of said Weight and engagin said handle to prevent rattling of the Weig t.

9. In combination, a racket; a threaded rod journalled axially of the handle; a Weight having a threaded bore received on said rod; and means yieldably pressing the rod longitudinally. i

l0. In combination, a racket having a handle shell; a butt piece in the butt of the shell; a threaded rod journalled in said piece and disposed axially of the handle; a Weight having an axial threaded bore received on said rod; a `Washer secured on said rod near the butt piece; and a spring compressed on the rod between said Washer and piece to prevent rattling of the Weight.

11, In combination, a rachet; a Weight adjustable longitudinally of the racket; and springs secured on respectively opposite recesses on the inner leaf springs secured on respectively oppo-` site sides of said weight and enga ing said shell to prevent rattling of the weig t.

13. In combination, a racket having a hol` low handle; a threaded rod journalled axially of the handle; a Weight having an axial threaded bore received on said rod; and means secured on said Weight and engaging said handle to prevent rattling of the Weight. r

14.*In combination, a racket havin a hol# low handle; a` threaded rod journa ed axially of the handle; a Weight having an axial threaded bore received on said rod; and means secured on respectively opposite sides of said Weightsa'nd engaging said handle to prevent rattling of the Weight.

15. In combination, a hollow racket handle of thin sheet metal having impressed panels throughout the handle; and separated grips having raised panels fitted in said impressed panels.

16. In combination, a tubular racket handle having impressed panels throughout; and separated grips vhaving raised panels fitted in said impressed panels.

17., In combination, a racket shell having impressed panels throughout the handle leaving marginal faces at the sides of the panels; and separated grips covering said faces and having raised panels fitted in saidy impressed panels.,

18. In combination, a tubular racket handle of approximate rectangular cross-section having .Wide side faces having impressed intra-marginal panels throughout leaving wide margins; and Iseparated grips covering said margins and having raised panels itted in said impressed panels.,

CHARLES C. MORRISN, 

